Earle Hagen
| Earle Hagen | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Earle Harry Hagen |
| Born |
July 9, 1919 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | May 26, 2008 (aged 88) Rancho Mirage, California |
| Genres | Soundtrack |
| Occupation(s) | Composer |
| Years active | 1939–2008 |
Earle Harry Hagen (July 9, 1919 – May 26, 2008) was an American composer who created music for movies and television. His best-known TV themes include those for Make Room for Daddy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, That Girl and The Mod Squad. He is also remembered for co-writing and whistling "The Fishin' Hole", the melody of the main theme to The Andy Griffith Show; writing the instrumental classic "Harlem Nocturne" used as the theme to television's Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer; and co-writing the theme song to Tim Conway's Western comedy Rango.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, as a boy he moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, where he learned to play the trombone in junior high school, and graduated from Hollywood High School. At age 16, he left home to join traveling big bands, playing with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Ray Noble. While on the road with Noble in 1939, he wrote "Harlem Nocturne" as a tribute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges. The piece was recorded by several artists, including Johnny Otis, Randy Brooks, Herbie Fields, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Earl Bostic, Charlie Barnet, The Viscounts, King Curtis, Quincy Jones, and David Sanborn. Later, it was used as the theme for television's Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, and The New Mike Hammer.
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